Air conditioning apparatus having an evaporative type condenser



Jan. 3,1950 c. HENNEY 9 AIR CONDITIONING APPARATUS HAVING AN EVAPORA'IIVE TYPE CONDENSER Filed April 13, 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. 61mm :4- f. Ham/4').

IV/J' H TTOR VEYJ Jan. 3, 1950 c HENNEY 2,493,141

AIR connn'x'cmme APPARATUS xmvme AN EVAPORATIVE TYPE CONDENSER Filed April 13, 1948 2 Sheets-Shem 2 75.211131" H: TH

I N V EN TOR. 61mm: aff/i'EN/VEX #15 A 77195? MEYJ l'atented Jan. 3, 1950 AIR CONDITIONING APPARATUS HAVING AN EVAPORATIVE TYPE CONDENSER Charles F. Henney, Dayton, Ohio, assignor to General Motors Corporation, Dayton, Ohio, a

corporation of Delaware Application April 13, 1948, Serial No. 20,749

I 11 Claims.

This invention relates to refrigerating apparatus and more particularly to an improved arrangement of certain elements of a refrigerating system employed in railway air conditioning.

Refrigerating apparatus for use in railway air conditioning equipment presents many design problems not present in the design of other types of installations. In designing air conditioning equipment for use on railway cars it is important to.conserve on the amount of space used and on the amount of water used for cooling the condenser while at the same time providing eiiicient operation and increased capacity to take care of abnormal demands placed upon the refrigerating system of the equipment, such as starting the system when the cars are warm and changes in temperature of the cars when passing from a relatively mild climate into a very hot region.

It is anobject of this invention to provide a compact refrigerant liquefying unit of a refrigerating system in which the arrangement of elements thereof within a casing containing an evaporative type condenser renders the system more eificient and of greater capacity.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved arrangement of elements of the refrigerant liquefying portion of arefrigerating system within a water chamber of an evaporative type condenser housing or casing in which dirt and mud in the separating or settling portion of the chamber can be readily and quickly flushed therefrom.

A further object of this invention is to provide eflicient removal of heat from compressed refrigerant and to insure complete liquefaction thereof prior to its flow to the evaporatorof a refrigerating system of an air conditioning apparatus for mobile devices.

More particularly it is a specific object of this invention to provide a refrigerating system for use on mobile apparatus with an evaporative type condenser casing in which the condenser is partly submerged in a body of water contained in the casing and which system also includes a receiver, a superheatremoving coil and a refrigerant precooling coil immersed in the body of water whereby these elements form or serve as baflies to retard movement of the body of water in the casing and consequently minimize splashing thereof to eliminate noise and waste of the water.

Further advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, ref

erence being had to the accompanying drawings,

tion is clearly shown.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is a top view of a spray cabinet taken on the line l-l of Fig. 2- illustrating the location of various elements of a refrigerant liquefying unit within the cabinet;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the cabinet shown in Fig. l and taken on the line 22 thereof Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken on the lines-3 of Fig. 2 showing the arrangement of air circulating means within the upper part of the spray cabinet;

Fig; 4 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2 showing drain opening plugs at each end of the condenser water sump; and

Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic view showing the elements of the present refrigerating system and their connection in closed circuit relation.

There is disclosed in the drawings apparatus designed especially for use in mobile air conditioning installations wherein certain elements of a closed refrigerating system are housed in a cas ing adapted to be mounted beneath a railway car. Numerous details of construction have been omitted from the drawings for-the sake of clearness, since such details are unimportant and well known to those skilled in the art.

Referring first to Fig. 5 of. the drawings wherein there is diagrammatically shown a closed refrigerating system, reference numeral 20 designates a motor-compressor unit. The compressor of this unit withdraws refrigerant vapor, through a conduit 2| from an evaporator 22, compresses the refrigerant and forwards same through a conduit 23, a superheat removing coil 24, a conduit 26 and into a condenser 21. The evaporator 22 of the refrigerating system may be mounted in any suitable location so as to refrigerate and supply cold air to a space to be conditioned, such as the interior of a railway car (not shown) for which the apparatus is especialy designed and under which car certain elements of the refrigerating apparatus are mounted. The refrigerant is cooled and liquefied in the condenser 21 and flows into a receiver 28 where it is further cooled and stored until being passed on toward the evaporator. Liquid refrigerant flows toward a flow-control device 29 and is directed into the evaporator 22 for re-evaporation therein through a conduit 3|, a precooling coil 32 and a conduit 33. The flow-control device 29.may be of any conventional design and is vhereshown as a thermostatic expansion valve. This valve 26 is provided with the usual form of thermostatic bulb 34 which serves to close the valve 29 when the desired refrigerating eflect reaches the outlet of the evaporator 22.

The superheat removing coil 24 and the liquid refrigerant precooling coil 32 may each comprise a relatively small flat rectangular umt (see Fig. 2) including convolutions of conduit having a plurality of fins thereon. The superheat removing coil 24 is employed to remove sensible heat from the refrigerant, created by compressing the refrigerant vapor, prior to flow of the compressed fluid into condenser 21 wherein it is further cooled and liquefied. Coil 32 is employed to precool liquid refrigerant just prior to its flow to valve 29 so as to insure that liquefied refrigerant only will pass through the valve upon entering the evaporator 22. The condenser 21 is of the evaporative type and comprises loops or convolutions of conduit having a plurality of flns thereon. The construction of such coils is conventional and so well known that a detailed description thereof is believed unnecessary.

As shown in Figs. 1 to4, the receiver 26, condenser 21 and the two smaller coil units 24 and 32 are located in a spray cabinet formed by a casing and generally designated by the reference numeral 40. The conduit connections between these elements having been shown in Fig. 5 of the drawings are omitted from the structural views, Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive, for sake of clearness.

Cabinet 40 is formed by a heavy sheet metal casing and is adapted to be suspended beneath a railway car in any suitable or conventional manner. The compressor and a prime mover therefor may be suspended from beneath the ear in a housing or casing (not shown) separate from that forming the cabinet 40. Cabinet 40 is provided with an air inlet opening in one side wall 42 thereof and an air outlet opening in the opposite side wall 44. An air filter 46 of any suitable design or construction is placed adjacent to or over the air inlet opening and serves to filter air drawn into the cabinet. An eliminator 41 also of any suitable or conventional design is placed adjacent to or over the air outlet opening of cabinet 40 and serves to remove any droplets of water entrained in air leaving the casing of the cabinet as is now common practice in the art. A partition having an upright portion 5| and a horizontal portion 52 is welded or otherwise suitably secured to opposed end walls 52 of cabinet 40 and divides or separates the interior of the easing into an upper fan compartment 54 and a spray' compartment 55. The entire lower portion of the enclosing casing of cabinet 40 serves as a chamber or sump adapted to contain a body of water for a purpose to be presently described. The lower water chamber is divided into two smaller water sumps 56 and 51 by a partition 58 which is welded to the portion 52 of the upper partition and is also welded to the opposed end walls 52 of the cabinet. Lower partition 58 extends into the body of water adapted to be contained in the water chamber or sump and forms a baflle therein. Partition or ballle 58 is provided with one or more openings 59 (see Figs. 2 and 3) located above the bottom wall of the cabinet casing for permitting the water upon reaching a certain level in the sump 51 to overflow into the sump 56. A motor 5| is mounted within the fan compartment 54 and operates a pair of centrifugal fans or blowers 62 which bring air into the compartment 54 any suitab e\or conventional manner, within the spray compartment 55 and extends from a point adjacent the top thereof to a predetermined point in sump 51 whereby the lower portion or several conduit convolutions thereof are submerged in the body of water adapted to be contained in the water chamber. Receiver tank 26, superheat removing coil 24 and the precooling coil 32 are all immersed in the body of water contained in sump 56 and spaced from the bottom wall of cabinet 40 by suitable supporting brackets. A spray system including a plurality of spray nozzles 66 arranged in the upper portion of the cabinet serve to spray water outwardly upon the condenser 21. This water washes air, entering the spray compartment 55, before the air contacts or flows across surfaces of the condenser. Any excess or unevaporated water drips down from the condenser 21 to the sump 51, into which a part of the condenser is submerged, where the heavier mud and dirt particles settle to the bottom of sump 51. As thelevel of water in sump 51 reaches the overflow openings 59 in partition 58 substantially dirt-free water passes therethrough and over into the other sump 56 of the lower sump chamber. Sump 56 is provided with an outlet port to which a pump 68 is connected. The pump 66 draws water from the main or substantially clear water sump 56 and circulates this water through suitable pipes 1| and 12 to the spray nozzles 66. Pump 66 is mounted upon a wall of the cabinet 40 and carries an electric motor 13 for driving the same. A screen or filter element 14 strains out foreign particles from water which enters the pump 68. A clean-out door or plug 16, of any suitable or conventional design, is located at each end of the water sump 51, and normally closes an opening in the end walls 52 of casing 40. When these doors or plugs 16 are opened water gushes from sump 51 and the intensity of this gush of water will carry most of the mud and dirt, which has settled to the bottom of the sump, therefrom. Any mud or dirt that remains in sump 51 can readily be flushed out by a stream of water emitted from a hose inserted into the opening at one end of the sump. The water sump 56 is also provided with clean-out doors or plugs 11 (see Fig. 1) for draining water from this sump. It is preferred that the two drain doors of each sump and particularly the sump 51, be simultaneously opened in order that water gushing from the opened water sump 51 will carry as much mud or dirt therefrom as is possible. Extending upwardly from the fitting or casting which carries the one drain door 11 and screen 14 there is provided a filler pipe 18 normally closed by a cap 19 (see Fig. 1). After water has been drained from the water sumps 56 and 51 and these sumps flushed out drain doors or plugs 16 and 11 are reclosed and clean water is admitted to the sump chamber of cabinet 40 through the filler pipe 18. A water level sight gauge (not shown) may, if desired, be employed to indicate the level of water within As before stated the unit herein disclosed is particularly designed for mobile apparatus such as railway cars. Obviously the car, of the train of cars thereof, which carries the present unit in addition to being frequently lunged or jerked forward and being brought to abrupt stops also swings or sways from side'to side while in motion. The body of water contained in the water chamber of cabinet 40 therefore tends to move back and forth within the casing, in opposite directions from movements of the car as described, and

causes turbulence and splashing of the water which, in addition to creating an objectionable noise, may result in much waste of water. For example, water in .sump 46 may flow into the sump 41, through the openings 29 in baille 58, during sidewise movement of the car and may be splashed out of the cabinet 40 through the eliminator 41 at the cabinet air outlet. By virtue of submerging a part of the condenser 21 in the water in sump 51 and of immersing the receiver 28, superheat removing coil 24 and the precooling coil 32 in the water of sump 56, these elements serve as obstructions or baiiies for augmenting the effect of bafile or partition 58 in retarding movement of the body of water in the sumps to thereby reduce noise and minimize splashing of the water within and from the casing or cabinet 0. Thus the superheat removing coil 24, condenser 21, receiver 28 and precooling coil 32 in addltion to being eifectively cooled in order to render the refrigerating system more eflicient also perform another function which results in constructing such an encased unit for use on mobile apparatus more compact in design. The present disclosure represents an improvement in the art since the conservation of water for maintaining high capacity and efficient operation of refrigerating systems of mobile apparatus is highly important, particularly on long runs of such apparatus in hot dry territories.

While the form of embodiment of the invention as herein disclosed, constitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood that other forms might be adopted, as may come within the scope of the claims.

What is claimedis as follows:

1. In an air conditioning system for mobile apparatus, an evaporator, a compressor, a condenser, a receiver and refrigerant flow means connecting said evaporator, compressor, condenser and receiver in closed circuit relation, means for controlling the flow of refrigerant from said receiver to said evaporator, a casing enclosing said condenser and said receiver, said casing having an air inlet and an air outlet, a partition dividing the interior of said casing into a fan compartment and a spray compartment, said partition having an opening affording communication between said compartments, said condenser being located in said spray compartment, fan means within said fan compartment for flowing air into said casing through said inlet, through said communicating opening in said partition, across said'condenser and toward said outlet, the lower portion of said casing forming a I chamber containing a body of water, means for pumping water from said chamber and for spraying the water upon said condenser through air directed thereacross, baffle means cooperating with said partition and dividing said water chamber into a first water sump in the bottom of said spray compartment and a second water sump below said fan compartment, said bailie means having an overflow passage permitting water to flow from said first water sump into said second water sump, said condenser having a part thereof submerged in the body of water in said first water sump, said receiver being immersed in the body of water in said second water sump, and said receiver and said part of said condenser serving to' augment said baiile means in retarding movement of the body of water in said sumps so as to minimize splashing thereof within said casing.

2. In an air conditioning system for mobile apparatus, an evaporator, a compressor, a superheat removing coll, a condenser, a receiver and refrigerant flow means connecting said evaporator,

, compressor, superheat removing coil, condenser and receiver in closed circuit relation, means for controlling the flow of refrigerant from said receiver to said evaporator, a casing enclosing said condenser, said superheat removing coil and said receiver, said casing having an air inlet opening and an air outlet opening, fan means located in the upper portion of, said casing for bringing air in through said air inlet opening and directing the air across said condenser toward said air outlet opening, the lower portion' of 'said casing forming a sump containing a body of water, means for pumping water from' said sump and for spraying the water upon said condenser through air directed thereacross, said condenser having a part thereof submerged in the body of water in said sump, said receiver and said superheat removing coil being immersed in the body of water in said sump, and said superheat removing coil, said receiver and said part of said condenser serving to retard movement of the body of water in said sump so as to minimize splashing thereof within said casing.

3. In an air conditioning system for mobile apparatus, an evaporator, a compressor, a superheat removing coil, a condenser, a receiver and refrigerant flow means connecting said evaporator, compressor, superheat removing coil, condenser and receiver in closed circuit relation, means for controlling the flow of refrigerant from said receiver to said evaporator, a casing enclosing said condenser, said superheat removing coil and said receiver. said casing having an air in-- let and an air outlet, a partition dividing the interior of said casing into a fan compartment and a spray compartment, said partition having an opening affording communication between said compartments, said condenser being located in said spray compartment, fan means within said fan compartment for flowing air into said casing through said inlet, through said communicating opening in said partition, across said condenser and toward said outlet, the lower portion of said casing forming a chanber containing a body of water, means for pumping water from said chamber and for spraying the water upon said condenser through air directed thereacross, baflle means cooperating with said partition and dividing said 7 a body of water in said second water sump, and said superheat removing coil, said receiver and said part of said condenser serving to augment said bailie means in retarding movement of the body of water in said sumps so as to minimize splashing thereof within said casing.

4. In an air conditioning system for mobile apparatus, an evaporator, a compressor, a superheat removing coil, a condenser, a receiver, a precooling coil and refrigerant flow means connecting said evaporator, compressor, superheat removing coil, condenser, receiver and precooling coil in closed circuit relation, means for controlling the flow of refrigerant from said precooling coil to said evaporator, a casing enclosing said condenser, said superheat removing coil, said receiver and said precooling coil, said casing having an air inlet opening and an air outlet opening, fan means located in the upper portion of said casing for bringing air in through said air inlet opening and directing the air across said condenser toward said air outlet opening, the lower portion of said casing forming a sump containing a body of water, means for pumping water from said sump and for spraying the water upon said condenser through air directed thereacross, said condenser having a part thereof submerged in the body of water in said sump, said receiver, said superheat removing coil and said precooling coil being immersed in the body of water in said sump, and said superheat removing coil, said receiver, said precooling coil and said part of said condenser serving to retard movement of the body of water in said sump so as to minimize splashing thereof within said casing.

5. In an air conditioning system for mobile apparatus, an evaporator, a compressor, a superheat removing coil, a condenser, a receiver, a precooling coil and refrigerant flow means connecting said evaporator, compressor, superheat removing coil, condenser, receiver and precooling coil in closed circuit relation, means for controlling the flow of refrigerant from said precooling coil to said evaporator, a casing enclosing said condenser, said superheat removing coil, said receiver and said precooling coil, said casing having an air inlet and an air outlet, a partition dividing the interior of said casing into a fan compartment and a spray compartment, said partition having an opening affording communication between said compartments, said condenser being located in said spray compartment, fan means within said fan compartment for flowing air into said casing through said inlet, through said communicating opening in said partition, across said condenser and toward said outlet, the lower portion of said casing forming a chamber containing a body of water, means for pumping water from said chamber and for spraying the water upon said condenser through air directed thereacross, baflle means cooperating with said partition and dividing said water chamber into a first water sump in the bottom of said spray compartment and a second water sump below said fan compartment, said baflle means having an overflow passage permitting water to flow from said first water sump into said second water sump, said condenser having a part thereof submerged in the body of water in said first water sump, said receiver, said superheat removing coil and said precooling coil being immersed in the body of water in said second-water sump, and said superheat removing coil, said receiver, said precooling coil and said part of said condenser serving to augment said baffle means in retarding movement 8 of the body of water in said sumps so as to minimize splashing thereof within said casing.

6. In an air conditioning system for mobile apparatus, an evaporator, a compressor, a condenser, a receiver and refrigerant flow means connecting said evaporator, compressor, condenser and receiver in closed circuit relation, means for controlling the flow of refrigerant from said receiver to said evaporator, a casing enclosing said condenser and said receiver, said casing having an air inlet and an air outlet, a partition dividing the interior of said casing into a i an compartment and a spray compartment, said partition having an opening affording communication between said compartments, said condenser being located in said spray compartment, fan means within said fan compartment for flowing air into said casing through said inlet, through said communicating opening in said partition, across said condenser and toward said outlet, the lower portion of said casing forming a chamber containing a body of water, means for pumping water from said chamber and for spraying the water upon said condenser through air directed thereacross, bailie means cooperating with said partition and dividing said water chamber into a long narrow dirt and mud settling water sump in the lower portion of said spray compartment and a clear water sump below said fan compartment, said condenser being spaced from the bottom wall of said settling sump and having a part thereof submerged in the water therein. said receiver being immersed in the body of water in said clear water sump, said settling sump having a drain opening at opposed ends thereof, and the spacing of said condenser from the bottom wall of said settling sump permitting flushing thereof longitudinally between said drain openings.

7. In an air conditioning system for mobile apparatus, an evaporator, a compressor, a superheat removing coil, a condenser, a receiver and refrigerant flow means connecting said evaporator, compressor, superheat removing coil, condenser and receiver in closed circuit relation, means for controlling the flow of refrigerant from said receiver to said evaporator, a casing enclosing said condenser, said superheat removing coil and said receiver, said casing having an air inlet and an air outlet, a partition dividing the interior of said casing into a fan compartment and a spray compartment, said partition having an opening affording communication between said compartments, said condenser being located in said spray compartment, fan means within said fan compartment for flowing air into said casing through said inlet, through said communicating opening in said partition, across said condenser and toward said outlet, the lower portion of said casing forming a chamber containing a body of water, means for pumping water from said chamber and for spraying the water upon said condenser through -air directed thereacross, bailie means cooperating with said partition and dividing said water chamber into a long narrow dirt and mud settling water sump in the lower portion of said spray compartment and a clear water sump below said fan compartment, said condenser being spaced from the bottom wall of said settling sump and having a part thereof submerged in the water therein, said receiver and said superheat removing coil being immersed in the body of water in said clear water sump, said settling sump having a drain opening at opposed ends thereof, and the spacing of said condenser from the bottom wall of said settling sump permitting 9 flushing thereof longitudinally between said drain openings.

8. In an air conditioning system for mobile apparatus, an evaporator, a compressor, a con denser, a receiver and refrigerant flow means connecting said evaporator, compressor, condenser and receiver in closed circuit relation, means for controlling the flow of refrigerant from said receiver to said evaporator, a casing enclosing said condenser and said receiver, said casing having an air inlet opening and an air outlet opening, fan means located in the upper portion of said casing for bringing air into said casing through said air inlet opening and directing the air across said condenser and out of said casing through said air outlet opening, the lower portion of said casing forming a chamber containing a body of Water, baffle means dividing said Water chamber into a dirt and mud-settling water sump and a clear water sump, mean for pumping water from said clear water sump and for spraying the water upon said condenser through air directed thereacross, said condenser having a part thereof submerged in the body of water in said settling sump, said receiver being immersed in the body of water in said clear water sump, said baffle means being disposed intermediate said part of said condenser and said receiver and permitting overflow of water from said settling sump to said clear water sump, and said receiver and said part of said condenser serving to augment said bafile means in retarding movement of the body of water in said chamber so as to minimize splashing thereof within said casing.

9. In an air conditioning system for mobile apparatus, an evaporator, a condenser, a compressor, a receiver and refrigerant flow means connecting said evaporator, compressor, condenser and receiver in closed circuit relation, means for controlling the flow of refrigerant from said receiver to said evaporator, a casing enclosing said condenser and said receiver, said casing having an air inlet opening and an air outlet opening, fan means located in the upper portion of said casing for bringing air into said casing through said air inlet opening and directing the air across said condenser and out of said casing through said air outlet opening, the lower portion of said casing forming a chamber containing a body of water, baffle means dividing said water chamber into a relatively long narrow dirt and mud-settling water sump and a clear water sump, means for pumping water from said clear water sump and for spraying the water upon said condenser through air directed thereacross, said condenser being spaced from the bottom wall of said settling sump and having a part thereof submerged in the water therein, said receiver being immersed in the body of water in said clear water sump, said baiile means being disposed intermediate said receiver and said part of said condenser and permitting overflow of water from said settling sump to said clear water sump, said receiver and said part of said condenser serving to augment said baflle means in retarding movement of the body of water in said chamber so as to minimize splashing thereof within said casing, said settling sump having a drain opening at opposed ends thereof below the overflow point of said baffle means, and the spacing of said condenser from the bottom wall of said settling sump providing an unobstructed path between said drain openings permitting flushing of the settling sump longitudinally thereof.

10. In an air conditioning system for mobile apparatus, an evaporator, a compressor, a condenser and refrigerant flow means connecting said evaporator, compressor and condenser in closed circuit relation, means for controlling the flow of refrigerant from said condenser to said evaporator, a casing enclosing said condenser, said casing having an air inlet opening and an air outlet opening, fan means located in the upper portion of said casing for bringing air into said casing through said air inlet opening and directing theair across said condenser and out of said casing through said air outlet "opening, the lower portion of said casing forming a chamber containing a body of water, baflle means dividing said water chamber into a relatively long narrow dirt and mud-settling water sump and a clear Water sump, means for pumping water from said clear water sump and for spraying the water upon said condenser through air directed thereacross, said condenser being spaced from the bottom wall of said settling sump and having a part thereof submerged in the water therein, said baflie means permitting overflow of water from said settling sump to said clear water sump, said part of said condenser serving to augment said bafiie means in retarding movement of the body of water in said chamber so as to minimize splashing thereof within said casing, said settling sump having a drain opening at opposed ends thereof below the overflow point of said bafiie means, and the spacing of said condenser from the bottom wall of said settling sump providing an unobstructed path between said drain openings for permitting flushing of the settling sump longitudinally thereof.

11. In an air conditioning system for mobile apparatus, an evaporator, a compressor, a condenser and refrigerant flow means connecting said evaporator, compressor and condenser in closed circuit relation, means for controlling the flow of refrigerant from said condenser to said evaporator, a casing enclosing said condenser, said casing having an air inlet opening and an air outlet opening, fan means located in the upper portion of said casing for bringing air into said casing through said air inlet opening and directing' the air across said condenser and out of said casing through said air outlet opening, the lower portion of said casing forming a chamber containing a body of water, baflie means dividing said water chamber into a dirt and mud-settling sump and a clear water sump,-- means for pumping water from said clear water sump and for spraying the water upon said condenser through air directed thereacross, said condenser having a part thereof submerged in the body of water in said settling sump, said bafile means. permitting overflow of water from said settling sump to said clear water sump, and said part of said condenser serving to augment said baflie means in retarding movement of the body of water in said chamber so as to minimize splashing thereof within said casing.

CHARLES F. HENNEY.

' REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,187,398 Goggins Jan. 16, 1940 2,362,698 Hull Nov. 14, 1944 

